ITB offers new entry test for 45 million<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java<\/p>\n
In a bid to free itself from state subsidies, the Bandung
\nInstitute of Technology (ITB) will allow applicants to pay Rp 45
\nmillion (about US$5,000) and take a special test to enter the
\ninstitute, where competition for places is among the country's
\ntoughest.<\/p>\n
ITB deputy rector for academic and student affairs Adang
\nSurahman said on Wednesday that ITB hoped to raise Rp 10 billion
\nto Rp 12 billion through the new entrance test this year.<\/p>\n
\"We will accept 300 students through the special selection
\nprocess, in addition to around 2,000 students who pass the New
\nStudents Entry Selection (SPMB),\" Adang told a media briefing.<\/p>\n
He gave an assurance that despite its Rp 45 million cost, the
\nspecial test would be of similar difficulty as the nationwide
\nSPMB.<\/p>\n
Students would neither receive any special treatment nor
\nfacilities from the campus.<\/p>\n
But those who paid Rp 45 million to take the new test, he
\nsaid, would be given psychometric and skills tests, apart from
\nthe SPMB mandatory test.<\/p>\n
This selection would ensure students entered faculties that
\nbest suited their interests, talents and capabilities, he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
They must also pay a higher annual tuition fee of Rp 4 million
\nto Rp 5 million. Normally the fee ranges from Rp 3.4 million to
\nRp 4 million, depending on the student's faculty.<\/p>\n
Senior high school graduates take the nationwide SPMB test to
\nenroll in state-owned universities or institutes. Apart from
\noffering cheaper tuition, state universities are often more
\nreputable than private ones.<\/p>\n
Adang said that students who failed ITB's special selection
\nprocess could try their luck through the SPMB.<\/p>\n
He added the special selection process would also fill places
\nthat were left vacant every year by students who had passed the
\nSPMB but could not afford ITB's tuition fees.<\/p>\n
Every year, around 7 percent of the 2,000 ITB entrants fail to
\nregister themselves for a variety of reasons, including
\nfinancial, he said.<\/p>\n
ITB's move to tap more revenue from students is part of its
\nattempt to become financially independent from the government.<\/p>\n
The government plans to phase out subsidy spending across the
\nuniversities, forcing many to seek ways of raising their own
\nmoney. Universities have until 2005 to raise adequate funds for
\nthemselves.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1920, and the place where Indonesia's first
\npresident Soekarno graduated, ITB needs around Rp 240 billion to
\ncover its annual operating costs.<\/p>\n
At present the institute receives Rp 70 billion in subsidy
\nfrom the state. It obtains another Rp 100 billion through third-
\nparty cooperation and Rp 20 billion from student tuition fees.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/itb-offers-new-entry-test-for-45-million-1447893297",
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